Volkswagen · Jetta · 2001
7
Recalls
677
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has 7 recalls and 677 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (88 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 88 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Remedy Status
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.
Remedy Status
THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
Remedy Status
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JS
TAKATA RECALL -THE VEHICLE
THE CHANGE IN GEARS FEELS ROUGH. IT SEEMS AS IF THE GEARS ARE SKIPPING OR BEING FORCED. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED DOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CARS...
Preview excerpt
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD LIKE 35 OR 40 MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED,, THE ONE FROM THE SEAT AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG ONE ... I ALMOST WENT DOWN OUT OF THE ROAD ... IT GOT ME BY SURPRISE
STARTER PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR MOST TIMES WILL SCREECH REALLY LOUD. LED TO THE CONCLUSION IT IS THE STARTER FROM ONLINE FORUMS OF OWNERS OF SAME GENERATION JETTAS. SEEMS TO BE A PREMATURE WEAR ITEM. CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND OTHER CARS OF SAME AGE AND MILEAGE DO NOT...
Preview excerpt
CAR WILL STALL AT A 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN IN MOTION. IT WILL DO THIS AT ANY SPEED OR ON ANY ROAD GOING UPHILL OR DOWN HILL. HAVE PUT 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS IN CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP SOLENOID AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW.
THE WELD HOLDING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD BROKE OFF. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS VERY MINIMAL RUST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED, AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAD ISSUES OPENING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TA...
Preview excerpt
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAI...
Preview excerpt
MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OFF. I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE HAS CAME BACK ON.PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS CAR....
Preview excerpt
Showing 10 recent complaints from 677 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2001 Volkswagen models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has 7 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 677 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta are air bags (88 reports), electrical system (84 reports), engine and engine cooling (72 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 7 recalls on record for the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.